Catching Up

Wow. I didn't realize that I'd allowed so much time to go by since updating the sermons on this blog. For those of you who have trouble sleeping...

"The Goodness Trap"
November 23, 2008 - AM
Matthew 19:16-26
Howard Harden

"Triumphant Joy"
Part 2
November 16, 2008 - AM
John 16:25-33
Howard Harden

"Triumphant Joy"
Part 1
November 9, 2008 - AM
John 16:17-24
Howard Harden

"If the World Hates You"
November 2, 2008 - AM
John 15:18-16:4
Howard Harden

"Lessons From A Vineyard", Part 2
October 26, 2008 - AM
John 15:9-17
Howard Harden

Help! I've Been Mugged!

Seriously, I have...along with every member of First Baptist Church of Homestead. As some of you know, we are setting aside a prayer room in our church. So this room will be accessible 24/7, we are adding a special door whereby members can enter without needing a key to the church or the security code. Are you ready for this...

Price of the door: $1,400.
Miami Dade County "Impact" Fee: $668.68.

Yesiree. Our church adding a door is going to impact the county in a big, big way. They need $668.68 in order to adjust to the inconvenience our prayer room door will cause them.

Think about this: First Baptist CHURCH of Homestead has to PAY the "STATE" a fee so we can have a door into the room set aside for PRAYER. Whatever happened to separation of church and state?

The Need for Speed

I took the family to the 38th annual South Florida Auto Show last week. Can you believe they actually let a two year old sit behiond the wheel of this Lotus? Jesse wants one for Christmas.

Name That Car!

It's never too soon to teach the kids what cars looked like in the good old days. Can you guess what that is behind us? And do you like Rachel's outfit? Check out the message. (Click pic for larger view.)

Our Response to Those Who Govern Us

The following is an article I wrote for our November FBCH newsletter, "The Way." I wrote this before Tuesday's voting took place...

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Although I am writing prior to the election, most of you will probably read these words after the final ballots have been cast and the final results reported. No doubt, regardless of who wins, some will be pleased and others…ummm…not so pleased. However, I could not help but think that this is a pretty good time for Christians to be reminded of their spiritual obligation towards those who are placed in authority over us. While it is true that democracy wasn’t practiced when the New Testament writers wrote, there were governments and there were leaders. The principles taught in the Bible as to how we relate to them have not changed. They are just as applicable today as they were two thousand years ago.

In Paul’s first letter to young Timothy, he said, “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2) First and foremost, we are commanded to pray for our leaders. There are no qualifications placed upon this command. We are not to pray for those whom we helped elect or for those who belong to our political party. Some of you may feel like Edward Everett Hale, who while he was chaplain of the U.S. Senate, was asked if he prayed for the senators. He said, "No, I look at the senators and pray for the nation." Nevertheless, we are commanded to pray for them, regardless of our personal feelings. I have long believed that if the typical Christian spent the time praying for their leaders that they normally spend complaining, they would have much less to complain about! Those who pray for their leaders will normally be respectful in their dissent. This, of course, does not mean that we do not disagree. Nor does it mean that we should not shed light on unjust policies, immoral legislation or corruption. We can pray for those whom we actively oppose. But pray, we must. No Christian who does not pray for those in leadership has any right to complain about those who govern, for they have the government they prayed for.

The Bible is also a great handbook on how to pray for those elected to higher office. Paul mentioned three types of prayers in the aforementioned verses. First, we are to offer “requests.” This word refers to the felt needs that come along. It means praying during the difficult times. (If you’ve been praying about the recent financial crisis, chances are, that is the praying Paul is speaking of here!) Then, we are to offer “prayers.” This word refers to communion with someone. In other words, talk to God about our leaders. At times, those prayers may sound a little like Habakkuk’s complaints, and that’s okay. Finally, we are to make “intercessions.” This refers to specific requests that we make on behalf of another. The next president will be commander in chief of the most powerful military force in the world. He will inherit a national debt that, spread out, amounts to at least $25,000 per American. He will lead a nation where a murder takes place every twenty-three minutes, a rape every six minutes, a robbery every fifty-eight seconds, a burglary every three seconds. Whether or not you voted for him, don’t you think that he needs all the prayers he can get? Should we not pray for wisdom and direction and grace and strength?

But notice also that “thanksgiving” is mentioned in Paul’s list of prayers to be offered. “You mean that God wants me to give thanks for HIM?” some of you are thinking. Yes! This may be a good time to remember that the leaders Paul prayed for were not exactly role models. One Roman emperor was notorious for tying Christians to a stake, coating them in tar and turning them into living candles. Yet we are told to give thanks, apparently, even if those in authority over us are evil. That leads us to the question: Why should I give thanks for someone with whom I disagree a whole lot more than I agree? Because God is sovereign. Because God controls history. Because God can use the actions, even of evil kings, governors, presidents etc. in order to accomplish His divine purposes. So yes, thank God for those He has placed in authority.

Paul also instructed the church at Rome regarding this matter. “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” (Romans 13:1) “For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.” (Romans 13:4) Added together, our leaders in government are “established” by God and they are God’s “servants.” They may not be aware of these facts, but they are true nonetheless! I would argue based on these verses that Christians should respect the offices of government, even when those holding the offices are not worthy of respect. During the last sixteen years, I have seen Christians speak and act deplorably of government leaders from both major parties. I believe that our witness as believers suffers tremendously because of this. If we insult politicians with whom we disagree, if we pass along false and slanderous information (beware those “forward” emails), we hurt ourselves more than them. So let’s pray for our newly elected leaders and let’s show Christian decency in our conduct and speech. And always, let’s continue to look for and support those who share our biblical values and are running for election.

They Just Don't Get It

California adopted Prop 8 on Tuesday, banning same sex marriage in the state constitution. It took less than 24 hours for the American Civil Liberties Union to file a request for the state supreme court to overturn the gay marriage ban.

Um...excuse me...but they want the supreme court to overturn what is now a part of the constitution of the state of California? It was a CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, for crying out loud. Judges don't get to toss the CONSTITUTION. Yet that's exactly what they are trying to do. Seriously, folks, I'm not making this up. The above link takes you straight to the ACLU's argument.

This just proves why Florida, Arizona and California needed these amendments in the first place. Those who favor gay marriage aren't too interested in the rule of law. They believe that their wishes supercede the constitution and the rest of us should just get over it.

It's a SWEEP!

Pro-marriage constitutional amendments passed in all three states! Florida's Amendment 2, which required the highest threshold, passed with 62.1%. Arizona, which defeated a pro-marriage amendment in 2004, passed it this time with 56%. (At least one state has gotten more conservative in the past four years, right?) And EVEN CALIFORNIA passed Prop 8, in spite of the fact that gay marriages have been taking place there for several months and the wording on the ballot incredulously said that this amendment "eliminates the right of same-sex couples to marry." (Gee, that's not biased at all, is it?)

Thanks to those of you who helped in our little piece of the state to protect traditional marriage.

Heroes

My wife loves to watch the show "Heroes." Neither of us watch a whole lot of tv, but I think she's hooked on this one. Here are my heroes. These house church planters work as hard as anyone you'll ever meet to introduce people to Jesus Christ. They accept risks we don't face. They receive pay we wouldn't consider. They are heroes in the truest sense of the word.

A Picture of What God is Doing

One of our new house church missionaries in Cuba recently led a young couple to the Lord. They had been cohabitating for some time and had not given thought to marriage. However, after accepting Christ, they realized that their living arrangements were out of God's will. Believing that it was God's will for them to be united as husband and wife, they were married at Iglesia Bautista Imanuel, our partner church in Cuba. It just so happened that they were married while one of our members was present. This picture is more than just a photo of newlyweds. It represents what God is doing across Cuba. Now let's pray that God will do the same here.

Election Day Thoughts

I did my part on Amendment 2. I convinced the person both in front and behind me to vote for it. Neither seemed to know much about it. The lady in front actually walked up to me and asked me where Amendment 2 was on her ballot and I watched her vote. It was pretty cool.

My congressman, Mario Diaz-Balart, was in line so I got to grill him with some questions. I asked him how in the world he could not have an opinion on the Ramos and Compean bill and he waffled and wiggled and never answered my question. Sorry, but I couldn't vote for anybody on that one. I wasn't voting for pro-abortion Garcia and I can't vote for a republican who won't take a stand on a simple, but important issue...border control.

It took me 2 hours to go through the lines. Others were quite agitated at this, but I was too grateful for the opportunity to vote. My friends in Cuba don't enjoy this right.